Attachment for autos



Feb. 15, 1927. 1,617,651

J. A. RUGRODEN ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOS Filed Nov. 11. 1924 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. .15, 1927.

' 1 1,617,651 J. A. RUGRODEN ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOS Filed Nov. 11. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o wue wto'a 7 eljjlgfiafleiz,

Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT o -F c W JOHN A. RUGRODEN, OF ELBOW LAKE, MINNESOTA.

ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOS.

Application filed November 11, 1924. S'erialNo. 749,355.

This invention aims to provide 7 novel means whereby when nechamsm on a motor propelled vehicle is manipulated to retard the spark, the circuitv through the starting V the startingmotor when the internal combustion engine is in operation. "Itis, withinthe province of the disclosure to vimprove"generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that-type to which the 1inventi6n appertains; ,tion has been shown, itwill be understood I, tions as his skill ma Although a preferred form of the inventhat a'mechanic, working within the scope of what is claimed, may make such alterasuggest, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In theaccompanying drawings :F igure showsin side elevation, a portion of a motor propelled vehicle Wherewith the device forming the subject matter of this ap plication has been assembled; Figure 2 is an elevation disclosing the switch; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the switch;'Figure 4 is a section taken about on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, parts being in elevation; Figure 5 is a section taken through the cam and attendant parts; Figure 6 is a fragmental section showing a portion of the link; Figure I 7 is a sectional view taken through the cam,

parts of the switch mechanism appearing in elevation; Figure 8 is a diagram showing a fportion of the circuit of the starting motor.

' In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a portion of an automobile, the internal combustion engine being shown at 2. The starting motor for the internal combustion engine is designated by the numeral 4. A shaft 5 is supported for rotation alongside of the steering column 6, the shaft 5 being under the control of an operator, to advance and retard the spark in the ignition system ,of the engine 2. The parts above described 1 are common, and no novelty is claimed for them, saving in so far as they may enter into patentable combinations with parts hereinafter described.

The numeral 7 indicates a switch, preferably including a resilient U-shaped member 8 including an auxiliary or upper arm 9 and a lower or main arm 10, the arm 10 being stiffened by a reinforcing plate 11 attached by securing elements 12 to the said motor 4, in a position transverse to the axis of rotation of the spark-control shaft 5, the

reinforcing plate 11 being insulated. at 15 from the frame work of thestarting motor.

4 At its free end, the arm 10 of the switch 7 has an upstanding bracket 16. terminating in an outwardly projecting fin er 17. An

insulatingblock 18 is located below the finger 17, an insulating block 19 being dis posed above the finger, and an insulating washer 20 being seated, if desired, inthe finger 17. Through the elements 18, 20 and 19, a binding post 21' passes, the head 22 of thepost engaging the block 18, and a nut 23 on the post cooperating with a nut 24 to hold a conductor 25 wherein the usual footoperated starting switch 26 is located, the conductor 25 generally is grounded as at 27, the battery being marked by the numeral 28. The nut 23 holds an angular'switch terminal 29 on the block 19, the'terminal being provided at its upper end with a hookshaped seat 30. A switch terminal 31 is secured at 32 to the upper arm 9 of the switch 7 and is provided with an upstanding extension 33 having a wedge-shaped head 34 adapted to cooperate with the seat 30. For the sake of conductivity, the switch terminals 29 and 31 may be fashioned from copper, the U-shaped member 8 of the switch 7 preferably being made of spring steel.

The arms 9 and 10 of the member 8 lie within a U-shaped support 35, the base of the support being secured at 36 to the arm 10 and the reinforcing plate 11, the arm 9 and the switch terminal 31 being movable Within the support 35. A shaft 38 is mounted in the side portions of the support 35, a cam 39, of insulating material, being mounted to swing on the shaft, and being adapted to cooperate with the arm 9 of the U-shaped member 8. Insulating washers 40 are mounted on the shaft 38 between the cam 39 and the side portions of the support 35. The cam 39 is secured at 41, in any suitable way, to a member 42, the parts 39 and 42 being designated generally as a cam lever. A socket 43 is provided and has a stem 44 projecting through the Inember 42 and held thereon by nuts 45. At 46 there appears a sleeve having a laterally extended ball 47 mounted to rock in the socket 43. A sleeve 48 is shown, a rod 49 being threaded in opposite direct-ions into the sleeves 48 and 46. The sleeve 48 is held by a ball and socket connection 50, of the sort shown at 474345, on a crank 51 having a hook-shaped head 52 receiving the shaft 5, a securing element 53 extending across the head 52 and clamping the same firmly on the shaft 5.

In practical operation, when the shaft 5 is rotated, to retard the spark, the crank 51, and the link 464948 dispose the cam lever 3942 in such a position that the parts 34 and of the switch are in engagement, thereby permitting current to flow tothe starting motor 4 when the foot switch 26 is closed. When, however, the shaft 5 is rotated to advance the spark, the elements 34 and 30 are separated by the action of the cam 39 on the switch arm 9 and the circuit of the starting motor 4 is opened.

The general construction of the device is such that it will tend to prevent the putting of the starting motor 4 into operation whilst the engine 2 is running. The device, further, tends to prevent back firing, together with a breaking of the bendix, the starting gears and the like.

hat is claimed is A switch comprising a U-shaped member including main and auxiliary arms, the main armbeing provided at its free end with a bracket projecting toward the free end of the auxiliary arm, a contact terminal secured to the auxiliary arm and provided with an extension prolonged in the same general direction as the bracket, a second contact terminal overhanging the first-specified contact terminal, means for securing the second contact terminal to the bracket in insulated relation with respect thereto,

ture. I

JOHN A. RUGRODEJ. 

